Russia-Lee,+Vogelbacher

Erica Lee and Kali Vogelbacher B1 =JOURNEY THROUGH RUSSIA= ** The Land ** The Ural Mountains are on the western side of Russia. They form a physical boundary between eastern and western Russia. Oil, iron ore, and natural gas can be found in the mountains.

The Northern European Plain stretches across the western side of Russia. It is also called the Russian Plain. The plain is filled with fertile land.

The longest river in Russia is the Volga River. It is the most important river because it connects Moscow to the Caspian Sea. It is located in western Russia.

** Climate and Vegetation ** Tundra is a climate zone that covers everything north of the Arctic Circle in Russia, which is 10% of it.

Taiga is a forest belt that can be found in the high latitudes of Russia.

Rich fertile soil is known as chernozem. Chernozem is found in the mid-latitude regions in Russia. ** Population and Culture ** Atheism is a belief that there is no god or no other supreme being. It became popular during Soviet rule because the Soviet government disapproved of religion.

Only 25% of Russia’s population lives in two-thirds of Russia’s land area. The other 75% of the population live in the western part of Russia, along the border of other European countries.



Most Russians that claim a religious affiliation belong to the Russian Branch of the Orthodox Church. ** History and Government ** Socialism is a belief that calls for greater economic equality in society. The government’s oppression and extreme poverty caused may Russians to belief in socialism.

In 1547 Ivan the Great’s grandson, Ivan IV, became Russia’s first crowned czar, or supreme ruler.



The Soviet Union collapsed when all the Soviet Republics declared independence. ** Economy ** Soviet planners emphasized machinery production and other heavy industries. The extraction of petroleum is Russia’s most important industry.

About 53 percent of Russia’s international trade is the export of energy and fuels. The industrialization of Russia has caused environmental concerns including deforestation, air pollution, and water pollution.



Railroads and waterways provide most of Russia’s transportation needs. Most major cities are located along railways or waterway stops.

** Global Issues ** The fish populations are shrinking worldwide and Russia’s supertrawlers are largely to blame. Supertrawlers are floating fish factories that use huge trawl nets to catch large amounts of fish. These factories can process more than 400 tons of fish a day.

Pipelines built to transport oil and gas, pass through wilderness areas and threaten the surrounding environment and wildlife. Environmentalists fear the irreversible damages that may be caused by an oil spill.



An unprecedented thawing of the world’s largest peat bog, in western Siberia, could release into the atmosphere billions of metric tons of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.


 * Sources: **
 * Google Images
 * World Georgraphy and Cultures